http://www.countryguardian.net/ Wonderful website in the UK explaining problems throughout Europe with wind power

Dan, over here in Woodstock things are warming up. I have a list of all the voters in Woodstock, all the abuttment list, and it shames me to say that whoever is in charge of the protected wetlands have allowed Patriot Renewables to build within 500ft of the wetlands. All the money figures are blocked out so you can't tell how much the pay offs were to these people. The more I dig the dirtier this whole mess looks. Woodstock town manager seems to think it funny that all the green activist don't like the wind turbines. I probly should have told him, its because they are not GREEN. How did your meeting go? Please fill me in and do you know what is going on in Carthage? Patriot is over there too. Leola

Leola,
As with Woodstock, Carthage was suddenly presented a project no one had understanding of how it would affect them. Overwhelmed with offers of new money, many town officials envisioned solutions to revenue loss. They accepted the wind developer's assurances as well as the state's hastily developed policies which has the DEP trying to cope with human health issues. The idea of these giant wind machines within a town , all too often, presents a struggle town officials are unwilling to undertake as it relates to citizen health and welfare, therefore, they take the easy course of believing the wind developer and the state. Ask anyone who is attempting to write a wind ordinance for their town and they will tell you what an immense undertaking it is.
As with any venture allowed to proceed too fast, regrets will surely follow and wishes one had taken the time to study will be brought forth.
Believe it or not, many people in Carthage believe they will have an opportunity to register their vote on whether to allow these machines in Carthage.
The actions you are taking is not too late. The knowledge you will be imparting to your citizens will solicit the same responses Freemont and I often hear : " I wasn't aware of that ! "
As our town officials fail to look out for the protective interests of their citizens, whether they are of a few or many, it is imperative to make each citizen realize that their health and welfare may have to initiate with them.
I did look up the wind developer's Woodstock site application with the DEP and was curious to find the town planning board had issued a waiver to the town's noise standards and thus allowing the wind developer the opportunity to increase the night time noise limits from 45 Dba to 50 Dba. This was done with knowing what is happening in Mars Hill, Freedom and Vinalhaven , not to mention thruout the country and worldwide ?

Yup, for the first time this sort of presentation is going to include a look/listen to what the experience of wind farm noise is like. Not a lot of time, and not a primary focus on horror stories (plenty of those online), but definitely about the fact that noise annoyance is a serious issue, not a fringe phenomenon or just a "few individuals". we'll see how it goes. see http://aeinews.org/archives/category/wind-turbines for my previous coverage

Dan, From one old fighter that been fighting the big wind mill scam with you HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU .

Red Ribbon

Dan , You are right on with Good Old Fashion Common Sense it"s time for Maine to get out of ( I S O-NE . ) Freemont Tibbetts , Dixfield , Maine .

Thanks for the welcome!

Dan did you or Alice get a copy of Mark Rogers financial spread sheet that he presented at the Wind Forum at Dirigo HS? If so, can you send me a copy via email?

Dan,

Freemont will get me a DVD of the forum. I also contacted Mark Rogers directly and rec'd the spreadsheet. I also contacted Dan Fayen; Staff Writer and he stated the SunJournal didn't have enough room but he will be submitting an article and sending me a copy.

Hi Dan

I wish I had one dollar for every Roxbury resident who has recently exclaimed, "Wow, I didn't know they were going to be THAT big."   I hope all surrounding towns pay attention to size and location and the scam Big Wind represents.  What is sad is that Byron voted them out yet several of us have to be subjected to them.  What's even sadder is that one of our Selectwomen appeared at a Roxbury informational meeting and called all of us in Byron "dumb" for voting the way we did.

Ha!  I agree; however, we also had Wendy Todd from Mars Hill and I doubt if we would have been successful without her appearance.  You could have heard a pin drop when she spoke at our informational meeting.  I wish everyone could see the videos of the Mars Hill residents being interviewed after their project went online, a lot of questions could be answered just by watching them.  What is amazing is how the opposition has grown in such a short time.  What was once phone calls (remember talking years ago??!) and emails between everyone has now become a Statewide coalition with websites and blogs, thanks to the more technical folks!  I have faith more projects will be voted down and much of Maine will remain special. 

Someone needs to find a way to let the public know what the wind ordinance is about and what is says. I blame our town officials for this lack of information being brought to the public.  Many people I have talked to have shot down the past attempts because they think saying "yes" means they are saying  "yes" to wind turbines in the area.  They need to know it is not "yes come put up turbines" but "yes we are restrincting them".  They must be informed in a way and wording people in general can understand.  Or, maybe I am wrong and I don't even understand.  People need to understand before going to the poles without having to attend meetings.  Just my thoughts.